Phoenix welcomes Hadassah

Women's Zionist group meets in Valley for national convention

LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor

Hadassah, the nation's largest Jewish women's organization and the largest Zionist organization in the United States, welcomes more than 1,500 delegates to Phoenix this week for its 90th annual convention.

This is the first time that Hadassah, with 300,000 members throughout the nation, has hosted its national convention in the Southwest, giving all local members the opportunity to participate in the programming, said Lee Levine, local convention chairwoman.

Host for the convention is the Hadassah Valley of the Sun Chapter, which has more than 2,500 members in 14 groups throughout Maricopa County.

Arizona's other Hadassah chapters are in Sun Lakes and Tucson.

"We're very excited to have the (delegates) here, and we welcome them and hope we enjoy their time in Valley of the Sun," said Fredi Brown, chapter present. "It's an awesome responsibility to invite all these Jewish mothers to see my house."

The July 11-14 convention - which has a theme of "Go to the desert, nourish the hope" - will be held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix and features government officials, academic experts and medical professionals.

Speakers include Daniel Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the United States; Dennis Ross, former ambassador and Middle East expert; and Steve Emerson, terrorism expert.

The convention is an educational and motivational forum for Hadassah members across the country, said Ellen Hershkin of Dix Hills, N.Y., national chairwoman of the convention. It is designed to "launch and enhance volunteer programs that the delegates will use in their local activities throughout the upcoming year."

One word that sums up the convention is "interconnectedness," said Carol Fein of Monroe Township, N.J., vice chairwoman of the convention. "We're trying to show the interconnectedness of our projects in Israel and our program here in the United States."

A common misconception about Hadassah is that it's only an organization for old Jewish ladies who raise money for a hospital in Israel, Hershkin said. "But it's so much more."

Convention session topics cover a wide range of issues, from bioethics and stem cell research, to terrorism and the 2004 elections, as well as organization programming ideas for delegates to take home to their own chapters.

"Hadassah is not a one-issue organization," Hershikin said. "We are as multifaceted as the interests of our members and the needs of Israel and Jewish people everywhere."

This is the first time the host for a national convention has been a chapter rather than a region, Levine said. Hosting responsibilities include planning a Shabbat dinner and delegates' reception; coordinating volunteers; assembling gift bags for delegates; inviting local dignitaries such as Gov. Janet Napolitano, an honorary life member, to attend; and providing banquet hostesses.

The chapter is coordinating a boutique, with leadership by boutique vice chairwomen Judy Silberman, Ellen Blum and Thea Friedman, to help defray convention costs.

Hadassah Associates - husbands, brothers and sons of Hadassah members - will serve as boutique cashiers, and also participate in special associates' events.

Local Hadassah members, together with women from out-of-state chapters, will volunteer throughout the convention, Levine said. Coordinating the 260 volunteers are Sheilah Wagner and Ellen Silverman.

A troupe from The Pilobolus Dance Theater of New York will perform interpretative dances to introduce the plenary sessions. Each piece has been originally choreographed for Hadassah, Fein said. Other entertainment includes performer Sam Glazer from Los Angeles and the Valley's Limelight Entertainment.

Levine, who began planning the convention a year ago, has been active in Hadassah for eight years. Her daughter and granddaughter, both life members, will attend the convention.

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society is mounting an exhibit in the hotel lobby featuring photos depicting Hadassah's history in the Valley. Nationally, Hadassah was founded in 1912; the Phoenix chapter started in 1940.

In 2000, the Phoenix and Scottsdale chapters merged to become Hadassah Valley of the Sun Chapter within the Desert Mountain Region. Since the merger, the chapter has increased its fund raising by about 200 percent and exceeded its new annual membership goal by 129 percent, said Seema Liston, member of the national Hadassah board and past president of the Phoenix chapter. The chapter has been named a resource center by national Hadassah because of the Jewish population growth in the metropolitan area, Liston said.

Since 2000, the Valley of the Sun chapter has become "more dynamic and offers groups and activities for a more diverse population," she said, including members with young families, professional women and active retirees and seniors.

The wide range of ages and lifestyles of Hadassah women will be apparent on a national level during the convention as well, said Fein. "We're absolutely thrilled that so many women have felt that this was important enough to them that they would go to Phoenix in July."

Contact the writer at leisah_namm@jewishaz.com.

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